LED research: Where's the money?

LED market research reveals movers and shakers: LED Engin raises $12 million to expand, UV LED market on the rise.

Recently, LED Engin raised $12 million to expand operations, with an option to receive even more from its investors. Not only does that bode well for the company as it can continue to expand its products internationally, it also bodes well for the industry. Nothing highlights growth potential more than evidence of investments. So what does the industry look like from a growth perspective? It just takes a glance at the number of research reports flooding the market to see that expectations are blossoming.

UV LEDs: According to Yole Développement's new report UV LEDS: Technology & Application Trends, UV LEDs are expected to be a $270M business by 2017, and even up to $300M based on application potential.

Having been involved with the investment industry in another life, I'm particularly happy when announcements involve increased investments. Given the past several years of a barren IPO market, it's a good sign.

I couldn't have said it any better myself .... this is a growing market which hopes to make incandescent light & its heat generation obsolete. Efficiency & cost savings are everybody's objectives and LEDs are the obvious solution at the moment.

LEDs are the obvious evolution of the lighting market (in general) for exactly the same reasons as transistors replaced the venerable electro-mechanical vacuum tubes. Big increase in efficiency, big reduction is waste heat and all the headaches it brings with it, big improvement in shock tolerance, and orders of magnitude longer lifespans.
Honestly, it's hard to imagine why investment would NOT go to LEDs. Just like it's hard to imagine what the electronics industry would have been today, had the luddites insisted we stick with vacuum tubes!